21 February 2025 - Russia Special Weapons News

Russian Region Holding Ukrainian Prisoners Of War 'As Bargaining Chip' RFE/RL 21 Feb 2025 -- Iya Rashevska was told her husband - a member of the country's armed forces - had gone missing in the frontline in the eastern Donetsk region, in April 2023.

Report by Russian Defence Ministry on repelling AFU attempt to invade Russian territory in Kursk region (21 February 2025) Russia MoD 21 Feb 2025
Russia takes control of three more villages in eastern Ukraine: Defense Ministry Press TV 21 Feb 2025 -- The Russian Defense Ministry has announced that its forces have taken control of the villages of Nadiivka, Novosilka, and Novoocheretuvate in Donetsk, eastern Ukraine, advancing further toward the central Dnipropetrovsk region.

N. Koreans' high casualties in Ukraine blamed on inexperience VOA 21 Feb 2025 -- North Korean troops that joined Moscow's forces about four months ago in Russia's border region of Kursk are estimated to have suffered considerable casualties in the war against Ukraine, which analysts attribute to their lack of front-line combat experience.

Plenary meeting of the Future Technologies Forum President of Russia 21 Feb 2025 -- Vladimir Putin took part in a plenary meeting of the Future Technologies Forum, underway at the International Trade Centre in Moscow.

Kremlin Denies It Asked NATO To Withdraw Troops From Eastern Flanks RFE/RL 21 Feb 2025 -- The Kremlin has denied reports that Russian officials requested that the United States seek the withdrawal of NATO troops from countries near or bordering Russia.
Russia warns of NATO threats against port infrastructure Press TV 21 Feb 2025 -- Russia's Security Council has warned of increasing threats from the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) against Russian port infrastructure.

Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov's statement and answers to media questions following the G20 Ministerial Council meeting, Johannesburg, February 21, 2025 Russia Ministry of Foreign Affairs 21 Feb 2025
Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov's remarks at the G20 Foreign Ministers' Meeting on the G20's objectives in 2025, a discussion of planned results of South Africa's Presidency and an assessment of the forum's activities, Johannesburg, February 21, 2025 Russia Ministry of Foreign Affairs 21 Feb 2025

Trump-Putin Summit Depends On Progress On Ending War, Rubio Says RFE/RL 21 Feb 2025 -- A possible meeting between U.S. President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin will depend on whether progress is made on ending the war in Ukraine, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said on February 20.

Joint Statement 4th Shadow Fleet Expert Group Meeting 19-20 February 2025 Germany Federal Foreign Office 21 Feb 2025 -- Joint statement by the coastal states of the Baltic Sea and North Sea - Belgium, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Iceland, Latvia, Lithuania, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Sweden and the United Kingdom - following the fourth expert-level meeting in Stockholm 19-20 February 2025.

The EU Foreign Affairs Council to approve the 16th package of sanctions against Russia Latvia MFA 21 Feb 2025 -- On the third-year mark of Russia's war of aggression against Ukraine, the European Union (EU) Foreign Affairs Council, at its meeting in Brussels on Monday, 24 February 2025, is expected to formally approve the 16th package of sanctions against Russia.

Chinese, Russian FMs meet on bilateral ties Global Times 21 Feb 2025 -- Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi discussed China-Russia relations with his Russian counterpart Sergei Lavrov Thursday on the sidelines of the Group of 20 (G20) Foreign Ministers' Meeting in Johannesburg, South Africa.

China 'Nervous' Over U.S.-Russia Reset, Despite Beijing's Public Support RFE/RL 21 Feb 2025 -- China's top diplomat says that a "window for peace" is opening amid a quickening pace of U.S. diplomacy around ending the war in Ukraine and steps by Washington to normalize relations with Moscow.

Press release on Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov's meeting with Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Federative Republic of Brazil Mauro Vieira Russia Ministry of Foreign Affairs 21 Feb 2025

Press release on Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov's meeting with Indian Minister of External Affairs Subrahmanyam Jaishankar Russia Ministry of Foreign Affairs 20 Feb 2025

Press release on Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov's meeting with the President of the Republic of South Africa Cyril Ramaphosa Russia Ministry of Foreign Affairs 21 Feb 2025

What Does A U.S.-Russia Reset Mean For China? RFE/RL 21 Feb 2025 -- The quick pace of U.S. diplomacy around ending the war in Ukraine and steps by Washington to normalize relations with Moscow have sparked fears in Kyiv and European capitals about being sidelined and saddled with a peace deal that favors Russia.

Israeli Freight Forwarder Sentenced to Two Years in Prison for Violating Export Restrictions Imposed on Russia US Dept. of Justice 21 Feb 2025 -- Gal Haimovich, 49, of Israel, was sentenced today to 24 months in prison and three years of supervised release for conspiracy to illegally ship aircraft parts and avionics from U.S. manufacturers and suppliers to Russia, including for the benefit of sanctioned Russian airline companies. In addition, Haimovich paid the full forfeiture amount of $2,024,435.44 at today's sentencing.

North Korea expected to send many health workers to Russia: think tank Radio Free Asia 21 Feb 2025 -- North Korea is expected to send a large number of healthcare workers to Russia for training, a South Korean government-backed think tank said, as it tries to address a lack of in-house capabilities to achieve a goal of modernizing rural health services.

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